Man bailed over decomposed woman's body

Further tests are needed to discover the cause of death of a middle-aged woman whose decomposed body was found in a house, police said.

Officers were called to Shelby Road, Durrington, Worthing, West Sussex, by a relative of the occupant just after 1.30am yesterday and found the corpse inside.

A post-mortem examination completed last night on the woman, named by police as 47-year-old Lynne Warman, proved inconclusive.

Further toxicology tests will now be conducted to help determine the cause of death, a spokesman for Sussex Police said.

A man aged in his 50s who was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder has been freed on bail without charge until February 10, pending further inquiries.

Forensic experts spent the day combing the property for clues. Neighbours said they heard a "commotion" in the early hours and saw a black ambulance arrive to carry the body away.

One neighbour, who declined to be named, said: "A policewoman came round to ask me some questions but said she couldn't tell me anything about what had happened. She said I'd get to hear about it on the news.

"I didn't know the people who lived there. People come and go round here. There are a lot of younger people who don't seem to hang around for very long but also a lot of elderly people who have lived here for about 20 years."

Another resident, an 86-year-old woman, who also refused to be named, said: "It's normally quiet round here but I don't go out after dark. You get the odd skirmish but nothing to worry about really."

Earlier this year Kai Orgles, 19, was jailed for life at Lewes Crown Court after being convicted of murdering 26-year-old Syden Pearson in the same road.

Mr Pearson was stabbed five times in the chest and back as he walked home in January. Orgles was told he must serve a minimum of 15 years behind bars before being eligible for parole.